The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-03
CAUSES OF LOCKJAW.
Varieties of the Malady and How it is
Treated
From the Nev York Times.

From the NeiC York Times.
Old residents ON Long Island are aware
that greater number of persons in proper
ton to the inhabitants die of trismus and
tetanus there than in any other part of the
State or of the United States. This is par
tcularly true of the eastern towns and
villages. Visitors are aStonishcd at the CON
Germ manifested over slight cut, brulse, or
mclslon that would be almost unnotlced
elsewhere Cautions regarding cold after
an injury seem to them superfiuous, but the
natives know better, and dread locklaw be-
cause they have seen so many cases OF the dis
ease, IN many instances IN their own faml-
lies. Its prevalence is accounted for by the
climate and other influential causes which
predlSpose the system to it, and it is no.
tlceable fact that animals, particularly
horses, are as much bject to it as human
beings. Although tetanus is not always
fatal, it invariably leaves the systems of
those once Effected with a constitutional
liability to a renewal of the attack from
slight exciting causes. Trismus Is included
in the more general term tetanus. 1t is an
uncomfortable spasinodic contraction of the
muscles of the lower jaw, and is simply the
disease commonly known as lockjaw.
When all the voluntary muscles of the
body are attacked under the same condi-
lions the disorder is known as tetanus. 1t
usually begins with contraction of the
muscles of the throat and lower jaw, but
lockJaw is sometimes purely local atfec-
ton. 1t is spaslnodic affection produced
by sympathetic or reflected irritation
caused by local injury. A remarkable fea-
ture of tetanus is the absence of constitu
tonal disturbance. When it is attended
with local irritation, such as wound or
other injury, it is known as traniatic; when
no visible cause exists, it is called idiopathic-
lltr
the result of an accident as in the case
of Kelly the carpenter, and Burenger the
farmer, and almost invariably fatal.
The chronic or idiopathic form some
times, though rarely, yields to skillful treat
ment. Diseases involving the teeth, gums,
or jaws often cause trismus or lockjaw in
adults, and it is often the result of teething
in children. Horses seem very susceptible
to the disease, and many cases are known
on Long Island where slight saddle-gall or
abrasion caused by an il-fitting harness has
been followed by lockjaw. When they are
exposed to cold after injury, the disorder is
most to be feared. 1t is thought by some
authorities that lacerated wounds produce
tetanus more frequently than incised ones;
but, although this may be true in regard to
human subjects, horses and other animals
appear to suffer more from incised ones.
A nal run into the foot is the commonest
OF all causes of lockjaw in horses. The
acute form of tetanus is developed when
symptoms quickly follow the injury Death
usually follows in from twenty four hours
to ten days after the appearance Of the first
symptoms. After the lapse of twenty one
days the patient or subject is regarded d.
out of danger. RiSus sdrOnuicuS, or tetanie
grin, is drawing down OF the corners of
the mouth by the contraction of the facial
muscles. When this occurs all doubt is dis
PEELED as to the presence of trismus. and the
patient is regarded beyond all earthly as
sistance. This is often seen in dying peoplt,
! and was particularly noticeable on the bat
tlefield and in the hospitals during the civil
war. Tetanus is distinguishable from spinal
meningitis and from cerebro-spinal menin-
gifts by the absence of inflamma-
tory symptoms, and from the last-named
affection by the absence of cephalalgy or
headache, delirium and coma. The con
sciousness of the patient distinguishes it
also from epilepsy Poison by strychnine
produces symptoms so nearly akin to tetanus
as to puzzle the most learned and skIllful
physicians. Rabies, or hydrophobia, is
sometimes mistaken for it.
The remedies are many, and physicians
disagree as to. the most efficaciouS treatment
Chloral-hydrate, chioroform, ether, nico-
tine, quinine, morphine and other drugs are
used, and the patient is nourshed as gener-
ously as the nature of the malady will per-
mi